In rural areas, many farmers cultivate common vegetable varieties such as scallions, garlic, chives , cucumbers, green beans, and loofahs, which are convenient to harvest as needed. So, how often should cucumbers be watered?
I. Open- field cucumbers
1. Seedling establishment period
Cucumbers like water, but they are susceptible to waterlogging. Water them thoroughly when transplanting, and water frequently with small amounts, ideally every 5 days, to keep the soil moist.
2. Growth period
Vigorous cucumber plants grow rapidly, requiring controlled watering, watering only once every 3 days. If the cucumber leaves turn dark green and the vines grow shriveled, water should be added promptly. When the leaves turn pale yellow, the tendrils become thick and straight, and the leaves are large and thin, watering should be reduced to prevent excessive vegetative growth.
3. Fruiting period
During the fruiting period of cucumbers, watering them lightly once every 7 to 10 days is usually enough to solve the problem of water shortage.
II. Greenhouse Cucumbers
1. Seedling establishment period
Water thoroughly with drip irrigation before tilling the soil. Generally, no further watering is needed in the early stages of cucumber growth to ensure loose soil and create a suitable environment for cucumber growth. Water lightly in alternate furrows, especially after transplanting; the amount of water should be minimal, just a light touch. Generally, water lightly once in each furrow after transplanting to help the seedlings establish, and continue watering until the first fruit is 10cm long. During the cucumber's growth period, water every other furrow thoroughly, avoiding flooding. Repeat this process for the next furrow.
2. Growth period
Water according to the growth. If the vines are dark green and the leaves are of moderate size and glossy, it means that the water is adequate. At this time, watering should not be done. If the growing point shrinks into a clump, droops, is light green, and the fruit is dull, it means that the water is insufficient and should be watered in time. If the growing point is upright and the leaves are large and thin, it means that the water is too much and watering should be controlled, generally once every 5 days.
Water lightly with lukewarm water, using well water for drip irrigation under the plastic film between rows. Where possible, a water-drying pool can be set up inside the greenhouse, and watering should only be done when the water temperature is close to the soil temperature. Watering should ideally be done on a sunny morning, when the temperature difference between the water and soil is smaller, which is beneficial for cucumber growth. Pay attention to the weather forecast and ensure 1-2 days of sunny weather after watering.
3. Fruiting period
Water the cucumbers every 7 days before harvesting, ideally before harvesting. This ensures more water is supplied to the fruit and less to the vines, promoting cucumber weight gain and tenderness, and preventing excessive vine growth caused by watering after harvesting. After watering, raise the temperature first, then dehumidify. Immediately after watering, seal the greenhouse to quickly raise the air temperature and promote soil temperature recovery. Once the soil temperature has risen, immediately ventilate to remove excess moisture.
